Container rinsing and treating apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for rinsing and treating containers prior to filling in which the containers are brought to the zone of rinsing in single file or in multiple files, a continuously moving conveyor of nozzles is provided with alignment means engageable with the neck or crown ring of the container filling mouth to align the nozzles, and valved means controlling the supply of rinsing and treating fluid is connected by flexible conduits to the nozzles for injecting the fluid during the period of travel together of the containers and the alignment means.

United States Patent [72] Inventor MomirBabunovic Des Peres, Mo. [21] Appl. No. 795,867 [22] Filed Feb.3, 1969 [45] Patented Feb. 16,1971 [73] Assignee Barry-Wehmiller Company St. Louis, Mo. a corporation of Missouri [54] CONTAINER RINSING AND TREATING APPARATUS 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs. [52] U.S. Cl. 134/144, 134/129,134/152,134/181 [51] Int. Cl B08b 3/02, B67c 1/00 [50] Field oi'Search 134/72, 127,129,144,152,165,167,168,171,181,48; 15/304 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 813,012 2/1906 Loew 134/144X 899,017 9/1908 Arnold 134/129 2,915,773 12/1959 Whelan 134/48X 2,967,321 1/1961 Whelan .7 15/304 3,111,131 11/1963 Nekolaetal 134/129 3,495,291 2/1970 Copping et a1 134/167X Primary Examiner- Robert L. Bleutge Attorney-Gravely, Lieder and Woodruff ABSTRACT: Apparatus for rinsing and treating containers prior to filling in which the containers are brought to the zone of rinsing in single file or in multiple files, a continuously moving conveyor of nozzles is provided with alignment means engageable with the neck or crown ring of the container filling mouth to align the nozzles, and valved means controlling the supply of rinsing and treating fluid is connected by flexible conduits to the nozzles for injecting the fluid during the period oftravel together of the containers and the alignment means.

PATENTED FEB 1 61971 sum 1 or 2 C 9 w n o m M m W M m M 2 W a W G. I F

CONTAINER RINSING AND TREATING APPARATUS This invention is concerned with container rinsing apparatus, and is particularly directed to improvements in matching the container filling neck with fluid injecting nozzles while in continuous movement, as well as to improvements in control valve means for timing the period of fluid injection.

A continuing problem in rinsing containers moving at extremely high speed is to efficiently loosen and wash out dirt adhering to the interior so that the containers can successfully pass inspection before being filled with a consumable product. Theoretically intermittent jetting of the rinse fluid is more efficient than the continuous jetting because of the savings in fluid quantity and the power consumption to achieve the jetting action. Clean containers can be obtained by intermittent jetting with less exposure time, substantial savings in filtering equipment, and less pump horsepower.

Rinsers have been generally of the type in which containers are moved over stationary nozzles, or they have involved moving the nozzles at some predetermined speed. Such arrangements are satisfactory, though expensive to make and operate, for relatively low speed movement of the containers. When, however, the speed of the containers is increased significantly there is a marked decrease in the cleaning results. At high speed the quantity of rinsing fluid actually entering the containers is quite marginal and the effectiveness of the rinse is greatly diminished. The present apparatus may be utilized with container moving conveyor means of the character shown in my prior application for Pat, Ser. No. 710,141, filed Mar. 4, 1968, or in US. Pat. No. 3,111,131, issued Nov. 19, 1963 to W. .l. Nekola, et al. 1

The objects of the present invention are to provide traveling rising fluid jets which register with traveling containers to maintain the desired alignment, to provide a novel control valve system which can supply the rinsing fluid intermittently or continuously for a time period to obtain effective cleaning, and to provide a rinse fluid supply system which will allow the use of more than one character of rinse fluid.

The present apparatus is embodied in an arrangement of traveling jetting nozzles which match with moving containers and a fluid supply system having means to begin and end fluid injection while the containers are matched to the jetting nozzles. The fluid supply system embodies a rotary distributor valve arranged in association with a multiple rinse fluid supply so that a complete treatment of the containers may be achieved for optimum cleaning results.

This invention may be practiced with apparatus which will be described in the following specification relating to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a fragmentary elevational view of an organization of components which embodies the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged sectional elevational view of the apparatus seen along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken at line 3-3 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary and schematic view of apparatus modified to accommodate a plurality of rows of containers.

1n the drawings FIGS. 1 and 2 relate to an embodiment of the invention suitable for a single row of containers. A container conveyor includes a suitable track 11 for positioning the conveyor chain 12 by its rollers 13 in a relatively constant position so that the successive pockets 14 will move along a predetermined path and carry the containers C with the necks inverted to open downwardly. The path of movement may be any convenient length to establish a known location for the container filling necks.

Adjacent the path of container travel is a frame 15 operably mounting sprockets (3 being shown in the example to be described) 16, 17 and 18 for supporting an endless chain 19. The portion of chain 19 between sprockets 16 and 17 is movable substantially parallel to the path of container travel. Selected links 20 in chain 19 are provided with brackets 21 which support alignment cups 22, and each cup 22 is connected to a header chamber 23 from which a nozzle 24 projects into the open eye of the associated cup 22. A suitable prime mover 25 is connected by a drive chain 26 to a sprocket 27 on the shaft 28 for sprocket wheel 17. In this manner the endless chain 19 is driven in a clockwise direction about the sprocket wheels 16, 17 and l8. It is important to locate the cups 22 on the same pitch diameter as the chain 19 so that there will be no difierential speed of cup 22 and containers C to contend with.

As may be seen in FIG. I, the alignment cups 22 approach the moving line of containers C along an arc that effects a desired meshing of the container neck in the cup. A full mesh of container and cup is achieved as the cup reaches the top of its arc of travel. The reverse action occurs at sprocket 17 so that the separation of the container and cup begins at the top of the arc of travel at sprocket 17. In the view of FIG. 1 there will be seven cups 22 fully meshedand aligned with seven con tainers, although any other number of cups and containers may be so aligned. It is while each cup is meshed with a container that the rinsing fluid is forcibly supplied to the respective nozzles 24, while at other times the fluid is cutoff.

In FIG. 2 it can be seen that the frame 15 supports shaft 29 for sprocket wheel 16, as well as shaft 30 for sprocket wheel 18. The same frame 15 supports the shaft 28 for sprocket wheel 17 (FIG. 1). The central portion of frame 15 is formed with a bearing hub 31 to support a fluid distributor head 32.

The distributor head 32 (FIGS. 1 and 2) includes a hollow shaft 33 having an enlarged housing 34 at one end and a drive sprocket 35 at the opposite endfThe housing 34 is provided with a closure plate 36 which has a seal 37 thereon to engage a lining 38 secured to the inner circumferential wall of the housing. Fluid outlet bores 39 are formed through the lining 38 and the circumferential wall of housing 314. Bores 39 are equal in number to the number of nozzles 24 carried by the endless chain 19, and each bore is tapped to receive an outlet fitting 40. Flexible conduits 4] connect each fitting 40 to a header chamber 23.

The distributor head 32 also includes a stationary core having an enlarged head 42 sealed in the housing 34, and a shank 43 which extends through the shaft 313 and a seal member 44 to the outside of the seal. The shank 43 is formed with a pair of passages 45 and 46, passage 45 opening to a compartment 47 (FIG. 3) in the head 42 while passage 46 opens to a second compartment 48 adjacent compartment 47 and separated therefrom by a partition wall 49. The compartments 47 and 48 are formed to extend over an arc of the housing 34 which communicates with seven bores 39 so that fluid can be supplied to these bores at the same time. The shank 43 is mounted in a suitable bracket 15A which is part of the frame 15 and is held thereby against rotation. The shank 43 is suitably formed with a flat 43a to fit in a predetermined position in the bracket 15A so that the chambers 47 and 48 are prepositioned whereby upon rotation of the housing 34 the fluid is discharged as the bores 39 pass over the chambers 47 and 48 but is shutoff during travel of the bores around the remainder of the head 42.

The distributor housing 34 (FIG. 1) is rotated by the chain 49 meshing with sprocket 35 (FIG. 2) on the shaft 33, the chain 49 being driven from the prime mover 25 in synchronism with the endless chain 19. The flexible conduits 41 flex to accommodate the changes :in spacing of the header chambers 23 relative to the distributor housing 34.

In FIG. 2 there is illustrated a poppet valve assembly 50 having outlet conduits 51 and 52 which are adapted to be connected respectively with passages 45 and 46 in the shank 43 for the core head 42. A housing 53 is formed with inlet chambers 54 and 55 for the rinse fluid supplied by conduits 56 and 57 respectively from suitable sources of fluid. The fluid may be water, or it may be two different fluids, such as water and triodine. The inlet chamber 54 has an orifice 58 opening to an outlet chamber 59, and a valve 60 controls the orifice. The

valve 60 has an actuating stem 61 which is moved in an openwhich is moved in an opening direction by a spring 67. The stems 61 and 66 are actuated against the springs 62 and 67 by respective earns 68 and 69 mounted on a driven shaft 70. The shaft 70 may be driven from any suitable prime mover (not shown) so as to provide a pulsation in the flow of rinse fluid to conduits 51 and 52. However, when the shaft 70 is stopped in a predetermined position the valves 60 and 65 will stay open and a steady flow of fluid is obtained.

As is shown in FIG. 2, suitable means is provided for shifting the frame 15 and the endless chain I9 operably carried therein in a direction toward or away from the predetermined path of travel of the conveyor to accommodate different sizes of containers C and to provide means to obtain proper meshing of the containers in the cups 22. One such means may include one or more (one being shown) extensions 71 on the bracket A, a jackscrew 72 threaded into each of said extensions, a jackscrew turning head 73 for each jackscrew and a mounting plate 74 in which the screw turns but is held against longitudinal movement. The frame 15 is mounted in guide means (not shown) to give direction to the adjusting screw 72.

The present apparatus is well adapted (FIG. 4) for application to multiple container conveyor systems where the container conveyor 75 includes bars 76 in which a plurality of pockets 77 are secured. The bars 76 are connected at the ends (one end only being shown) to conveyor chains 78 running in guide ways 79 on rollers 80. An example of such a conveyor may be seen in US. Pat. No. 2,984,334 issued May 16, 196i to Chris C. Dungfelder et al.

()nly one fragmentary portion of the assembly has been shown, since those skilled in this art are deemed familiar with the general structural requirements after understanding the disclosure of FIGS. I and 2. The horizontal path of travel of each one of a plurality of bars 76 determines the path of travel of each manifold 81 on which are mounted a plurality of alignment cups 22 in combination with nozzles 24 projecting into the eye of the cups. Each manifold 81 is carried on a link 82 of a drive chain 83, and the chain 83 runs over sprocket wheel 84. While not shown, the chain is trained over a second and a third wheel. The sprocket wheel 84 and the ones not shown are arranged in a triangular relation as depicted in FIG. 1. A suitable prime mover (not shown) is connected to drive sprocket wheel 84 and the wheel is fast on a shaft that is common to and drives an axially opposite sprocket wheel, thereby keeping the manifolds 81 from skewing out of parallelism with the bars 76.

Each manifold 81 is provided with a flexible inlet conduit 86, and each conduit is connected to a feed fitting 40 on a distributor head of the type and character shown at 32 in FIG. 2. The distributor head may, as seen in FIG. 3 be formed with chambers 47 and 48 for handling different fluids of the character heretofore pointed out.

Whether the apparatus is arranged to handle a single line of containers (FIG. 2) or a wide apparatus for handling 10 or more lines of containers (FIG. 4), the operation thereof will essentially follow what has been set forth in connection with the description of FIGS. 1 and 2. It is important that the containers are held in the pockets against tipping and canting so that there will be a consistently accurate presentation of the mouth of the containers C to the alignment cups 22. The rinse fluid supplied through the control valve 50 may be pulsed by the cams 68 and'69 to produce an intermittent discharge at the nozzles 24, or it may be allowed to flow without pulsation. The cups 22 assure that the containers are properly aligned with the nozzles 24 so that each container is subjected to a rinse.

Iclaim:

I. In a container rinsing apparatus, a container conveyor movable in a predetermined path to hold the containers in inverted positions, a series of nozzles, articulated means carrying said nozzles in a closed path a portion of which coincides with said predetermined conveyor path, said nozzle carrier means having an entry path and an exit path at the respective beginning and ending of said coincident path of said carrier means with said conveyor, container engaging means moved by said carrier means through said entry path to meet and engage containers and register the nozzles therewith and to disengage containers and register the nozzles therewith and to disengage containers from nozzle registration in said exit path, a rinsing fluid distributor head rotatably mounted adjacent said nozzle carrier means, flexible conduits individually connected between said head and each of said series of nozzles. means rotating said head and driving said nozzle carrier means in synchronism, and rinse fluid supply means connected into said head, said fluid supply means being stationary and having a rinse fluid discharge passage sized to accommodate supplying as many of said series of nozzles as are registered with containers and to shutoff discharge at other times in the travel of said nozzles including said entry and exit paths.

2. In container rinsing apparatus, a first conveyor movable along a predetermined horizontal path, means carried by said conveyor to position containers with the pouring mouth opening downward, a second conveyor movable in a closed path and having a portion of said path substantially parallel with said predetermined horizontal path of said first conveyor, means operating said conveyors at synchronous speeds, nozzle means carried by said second conveyor, means associated with each nozzle means to align the nozzle means with the downwardly opening containers and maintain alignment throughout travel in said portion of the closed path of movement, valve means connected to each of said nozzle means and including a rotary distributor housing having outlet bores and a chambered stationary core therein over which said outlet bores pass coincident with nozzle travel in said portion of the closed path of movement, and a source of rinse fluid connected to said core.

3. In container rinsing apparatus, a first conveyor movable along a path that is in a predetermined plane, container pockets on said first conveyor to hold the containers in inverted positions, a second conveyor movable in a closed path that is substantially perpendicular to said predetermined plane and has a limited portion of its travel adjacent the path of said first conveyor and other portions remote therefrom, a plurality of container engaging members on said second conveyor movable into container engagement along an arcuate path of approach and movable out of container engagement along an arcuate path of recession, said arcuate paths defining the beginning and ending of said limited path of travel of said second conveyor, a nozzle mounted adjacent each container engaging member, a header connected to each nozzle, flexible conduits connected to each header, a source of rinsing fluid, and distribution means connected to said fluid source and to each of said flexible conduits.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein prime mover means is connected to drive said second conveyor in its closed path and to drive said distribution means in substantial synchronism with said second conveyor.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said distribution means includes a stationary core member and a rotary housing member enclosing saidcore member.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein means is connected to said second conveyor to adjust the spacing between said first and second conveyors at said limited adjacent travel to accommodate different size containers.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein a flow control valve is disposed between said rinse fluid source and said distribution means, and means is connected to operate said flow control valve selectively for developing pulsations in the rinse fluid discharge at said nozzles" and for allowing a steady rinse fluid flow. 

1. In a container rinsing apparatus, a container conveyor movable in a predetermined path to hold the containers in inverted positions, a series of nozzles, articulated means carrying said nozzles in a closed path a portion of which coincides with said predetermined conveyor path, said nozzle carrier means having an entry path and an exit path at the respective beginning and ending of said coincident path of said carrier means with said conveyor, container engaging means moved by said carrier means through said entry path to meet and engage containers and register the nozzles therewith and to disengage containers and register the nozzles therewith and to disengage containers from nozzle registration in said exit path, a rinsing fluid distributor head rotatably mounted adjacent said nozzle carrier means, flexible conduits individually connected between said head and each of said series of nozzles, means rotating said head and driving said nozzle carrier means in synchronism, and rinse fluid supply means connected into said head, said fluid supply means being stationary and having a rinse fluid discharge passage sized to accommodate supplying as many of said series of nozzles as are registered with containers and to shutoff discharge at other times in the travel of said nozzles including said entry and exit paths.
 2. In container rinsing apparatus, a first conveyor movable along a predetermined horizontal path, means carried by said conveyor to position containers with the pouring mouth opening downward, a second conveyor movable in a closed path and having a portion of said path substantially parallel with said predetermined horizontal path of said first conveyor, means operating said conveyors at synchronous speeds, nozzle means carried by said second conveyor, means associated with each nozzle means to align the nozzle means with the downwardly opening containers and maintain alignment throughout travel in said portion of the closed path of movement, valve means connected to each of said nozzle means and including a rotary distributor housing having outlet bores and a chambered stationary core therein over which said outlet bores pass coincident with nozzle travel in said portion of the closed path of movement, and a source of rinse fluid connected to said core.
 3. In container rinsing apparatus, a first conveyor movable along a path that is in a predeteRmined plane, container pockets on said first conveyor to hold the containers in inverted positions, a second conveyor movable in a closed path that is substantially perpendicular to said predetermined plane and has a limited portion of its travel adjacent the path of said first conveyor and other portions remote therefrom, a plurality of container engaging members on said second conveyor movable into container engagement along an arcuate path of approach and movable out of container engagement along an arcuate path of recession, said arcuate paths defining the beginning and ending of said limited path of travel of said second conveyor, a nozzle mounted adjacent each container engaging member, a header connected to each nozzle, flexible conduits connected to each header, a source of rinsing fluid, and distribution means connected to said fluid source and to each of said flexible conduits.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein prime mover means is connected to drive said second conveyor in its closed path and to drive said distribution means in substantial synchronism with said second conveyor.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said distribution means includes a stationary core member and a rotary housing member enclosing said core member.
 6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein means is connected to said second conveyor to adjust the spacing between said first and second conveyors at said limited adjacent travel to accommodate different size containers.
 7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein a flow control valve is disposed between said rinse fluid source and said distribution means, and means is connected to operate said flow control valve selectively for developing pulsations in the rinse fluid discharge at said nozzles and for allowing a steady rinse fluid flow. 